Page 16 of Capacity
“Maybe.” Silence swept over us then Mr. Cunningham picked up the conversation again. “I’ll go to another meeting if you promise…”
“Another smile?” I rolled my eyes and folded my arms across my chest.
“No, if you promise to come to work tomorrow because in my mind I’ve completely scared you away from Lakeview.”
When the sounds of our laughter tangled in the air, mine warm and throaty and his deep and gravelly, I was struck by their symphony. I was struck by the charge in the air too.
“You haven’t scared me away, Mr. Cunningham. In fact, you’ve made me feel more at home than I could’ve imagined.”
“Well, that makes me a happy man. I want you to feel at home. We need someone like you.”
“Someone likeme?”
“Someone real.” He leaned forward a little when he said it and I felt the bass of his voice bouncing off the walls of my cavernous chest.
I was pretty sure interviews weren’t supposed to last two hours but I didn’t leave the principal’s office until two hours after I’d entered. All the lights in the building were switched off and the only noise was the hum of electronics in the background.
How in the hell did I spend two hours talking to my new boss?
The question lunged at me once I was alone in my car. I didn’t have an answer to offer it. I pulled out of Lakeview’s parking lot and headed toward The Pour People downtown. I drove there without music, cursing myself every time my eyes lifted to the rearview mirror, checking the back seat for Kaiden.
I walked in and ordered a glass of Chardonnay the moment my ass hit the stool. Once the bartender placed my drink on top of a small square napkin, I texted Coco.
Me: I’m at the bar. Come by when you get this.
I laid my phone face down and pushed out a slow breath. The first thing that popped into my mind was Mr. Cunningham’s face. His bones must have been made of marble because that was the only explanation for his chiseled features. And that deep voice…
“Ms. Foster?” I looked up from my glass of wine and into the sapphire blue eyes of my new boss.
“Mr. Cunningham,” I lifted my eyebrows and turned to face him.
“I swear I’m not following you.” His smile was so bright I expected paparazzi to jump out and snap pictures of him. He looked like a celebrity. Rich and glossy.
“I’m less worried about you following me and more worried about you being in a bar when you…” I glanced around at the patrons carrying on conversations over wine and food. “Shouldn’t be here.” I made my voice a whisper and I wasn’t quite sure he heard it but the expression on his face changing from pleasantly polite to solemn let me know he did.
“I know.” He sat beside me and I was cocooned in his gentle cologne. I couldn’t put my finger on it but it was a mixture of something clean and something musky. It made my stomach growl. I was put off by how my body grumbled in response to his scent.
“So why are you here?” I drummed my fingernails on the bar top and looked at him.
“I honestly don’t know. It’s some kind of masochistic thing, I guess.”
“Being in here is unnecessary temptation.” My phone buzzed on the glossy bar top and a text from Coco came through.
Coco: Lumi I’m still out with Luke. Can we meet up tomorrow? Or I can just come to your house and hang.
I sighed and excused myself with Mr. Cunningham so I could respond.
Me: Okay. Come by tomorrow around seven.
Coco: Deal. I’m sorry I had to miss out.
Me: Don’t worry about it.
“Your husband must be wondering where you’re at.” Mr. Cunningham’s voice pulled my eyes away from the phone. Did he say myhusband? I knew he was trying to flirt but I didn’t know how to react. I couldn’t remember the last time a man flirted with me.
“I’m not married,” I said with a quiet smile.
“Oh…okay. I wasn’t trying to flirt I just made an assumption that now I realize sounds exactly like I’m trying to flirt.” He rubbed the heel of his hand against his forehead and we both laughed nervously.
